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WHAT IS THE "FALLING INTO AUTUMN JAM"?
As we head into the season of harvest and coziness, we want to dance with you at the “Falling into Autumn” annual weekend jam! Oct 9 -12, 2026 at the National Ballet School in Toronto (400 and 404 Jarvis Street, Toronto) with one Friday night off-site film screen at the a home studio (306 Garden, Avenue, Toronto)
This jam is access-focused and intentionally welcoming, with efforts to remove barriers so more folks can join us.
Whatever your style, we offer options to support you: technique classes with local and traveling teachers, guided jams and open jams for unstructured exploration.
Inspired by the season, we’re making the space cozy with cushions and mats in the studios for when you want to rest while staying in the room. We even have an CI elder story time followed by and adult nap time. You do not need a nap then go across the hall to a technique class! We also have a cozy movie night!
We will share a catered harvest meal on Sunday evening
There are two film screenings of contact dance films from around the world, including local submissions.
We hope we have made a schedule with time to breathe, dance, and truly get to know each other.
INTENSIVE TEACHERS:
Monika Schuberth (Austria) a tango and contact improvisation dancer and axis syllabus teacher from Austria who will be teaching a Contango Intensive (CI tango fusion).
Kathleen Rea and Milan Horvay (Toronto) will be teaching a flying and basing intensive
Suzanne Liska (Toronto) an Alexander and contact improvisation teacher who will be teaching a play based contact improvisation intensive.
WORKSHOP AND LAB TEACHERS
Eva Frankel (Scotland)
Dimitri Haddad (Quebec)
Frank Hull (Toronto)
Mary-Ann Lacey (Quebec)
Julien Nema (Toronto)
Alex St-Onge (Toronto)
Emily Goulet (Toronto)
邹孟芸 Miwa (Toronto)
Kathleen Rea (Toronto)
Philip Shinnick (Quebec)
Tanya Williams (Kitchener-Waterloo/Guelph Region)
MUSICIAN IN RESIDENCE:
Lalaina Ravelojaona (Montreal)
Hi, it's Lalaina - pronounced : [lɑlɑiɲ] - I'm a french-malagasy musician based in Montréal since 2020, after my music student years, I worked as an interpret, composer and teacher in a wide range of communities, from movies to shows and with choreographers. These days I am deeply looking back at the music of my ancestor lineage to find the bridge between the often hegemonic way of the western music and the global diaspora way of practice.
As a musician and a dancer, a way to connect the sound and the movement is always in the back of my mind, as I noticed music can be an overwhelming presence as well as an ally in the movement. We try to to go for the later. I don't mean surrendering to the music is bad, I just want to have option. In this quest, whales, bats and blind people really showed me the way. Deep listening as a way to tune in to our environment and our own bodies to make us safer, clearer, more mindful. With the use of small repetitive motif and waves of improvisation and vice-versa, we will make a map of this journey together.
ORGANISERS:
Jim Hoffman
邹孟芸 Miwa
Kathleen Rea
Emily Goulet
Milan Horvay
SCHEDULE:
Link to Schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1buhbkR3cg1l3-Xrp74nWkYmLQDSys9-c/view?usp=sharing
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Link to workshop descriptions:
TEACHERS
Link to teacher biographies:
TRAILERS
Festival Trailer:
Intensive Teachers Trailer:
Film Screening Trailer:
MEAL
Sunday night there is a catered vegan meal with a meat option available for those who would like one.
All other meals are at your own expense. There are many affordable dining options near the venue.
Please note that passes purchased after October 1, 2026 will not include catered meals, as final numbers will already have been provided to the caterer.
DATES AND TIMES
Film Screening: 7:00 pm
Friday, October 9, 2026 (306 Garden Ave, Toronto, Ontario - NOT wheelchair accessible)
Jamming and workshops
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday, October 10, 2026 (400 Jarvis Street, Toronto - YES wheelchair accessible)
Jamming and workshops and film screening
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday, October 11, 2026 (400 and 404 Jarvis Street, Toronto - YES wheelchair accessible)
Jamming and workshops
10:00 am to 1:30 pm
Monday, October 12, 2026 (400 Jarvis Street, Toronto - YES wheelchair accessible)
LOCATIONS
Main Location
Celia Franca Centre
400 Jarvis Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G6
Wheelchair accessible and barrier-free.
Film Screeding locations
Friday film screening is at home studio at 306 Garden Ave which is NOT wheelchair accessible but program is available ONLINE
Sunday film screening is at home studio at Betty Oliphant Theatre (404 Jarvis street) which is YES wheelchair accessible
RATES
FULL FESTIVAL PASSES
$285 – Festival Pass
Pay by October 1
Includes the two catered lunches
$285 – Late Bird Festival Pass
Pay after October 1
Does not include catered lunches
$100 - Work study (limited spots)
Contact Emily Goulet for info - egoulet08@gmail .com (please attach .com to make email work)
Scholarships are also available for those in need contact kathleenrea@outloo.com
CAN'T COME TO THE WHOLE FESTIVAL?
Here are your options:
$20 – Friday Night Film Screening
$150 – Full Day Saturday Pass
$100 - Sunday After Lunch Pass
Please note there are no Sunday full-day passes due to the intensive workshops requiring continuity.
$150 - One of the Morning Intensives
$40 – Saturday Night Dance Jam
$10 – EVERY BODY Saturday Afternoon Dance Jam
$10 – IBPOC Sunday Afternoon Dance Jam
$50 – Double Package: Sunday Night Film Screening and Dance Jam
SCHOLARSHIPS
No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.
Contact kathleenrea@outlook.com if you need more support than the above pricing scale affords. We will provide a discount code so you can purchase a pass at a reduced rate.
BILLETING
We can no longer billet people as it is to close to the festival
ACCESS
The Celia Franca Centre is a barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible space.
Wellesley Station is the closest subway station with elevator access.
If you have accessibility questions or would like to discuss accommodations that may support your participation, please contact:
JAM GUIDELINES
All participants must read the Jam Guidelines before purchasing a pass:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VvM85pJ_2gE58dANWztFLy5N4KoAZ49U/view?usp=drive_link
This year we have a new captioned video version of Jam guidelines:
BEGINNER TIP SHEET
New to contact improvisation?
We recommend reading our Beginner Tip Sheet before attending:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fkmC2yTfJUUDSEIVls5UtqC0Ke1F_A3C/view?usp=sharing
QUESTIONS
Please send questions to:
ILLNESS PREVENTION POLICY
Masking is optional. Approximately 5% to 10% of participants typically choose to wear masks.
Please do not attend if you are sick.
Please cover any skin sores or infections with a medical-grade bandage.
REFUND POLICY
Refunds requested with at least two weeks' notice will be issued minus a $25 administration fee.
Refunds requested with less than two weeks' notice will be issued minus a $60 administration fee, as we will have already paid for your catered meal.
REASON D'ETRE DANCE IS SUPPORTED BY
Toronto Arts Council
Ontario Arts Council (through the Government of Ontario)
Canadian Heritage
Some of the equipment used for this event was funded through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
PRODUCED BY
REAson d’etre dance
Dance Jam Guidelines
